The European Parliament and EU Council have unblocked a nearly year-old trade agreement with the United States. The move comes as a response to threats from Donald Trump to impose high tariffs on automobiles. The trade deal had been stalled for almost a year before European institutions moved to approve it, signaling the EU's attempt to address escalating trade tensions with the incoming US administration.
The European Union has reached a preliminary agreement on implementing a trade deal with the United States. The development comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose new tariffs if an agreement was not reached by July 4. The preliminary accord represents a significant step in avoiding a potential trade escalation between the two major economic blocs, though specific details of the agreement's terms have not been disclosed.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have begun high-level diplomatic talks, with Putin expected to emphasize the strategic importance of the China-Russia alliance during their meeting. The summit comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, highlighting the complex triangular relationship between the world's three major powers. The timing of the Putin-Xi meeting underscores Russia's efforts to strengthen ties with Beijing amid shifting global diplomatic dynamics and ongoing tensions with the West.
The US Department of Defense has confirmed it is reducing its military presence in Europe from four brigades to three. The troop deployment levels will return to 2021 numbers, marking a scaling back of American forces that had been increased following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Pentagon's decision represents a significant adjustment to the US military footprint in Europe, where American forces have played a key role in supporting NATO allies and deterring Russian aggression since the war began.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dismissed the significance of a U.S. decision to suspend activities of a bilateral defense board, following American criticism of Canada's defense spending. The suspension came after U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, criticized Canada for insufficient progress in increasing its military expenditure. The move reflects ongoing tensions between the North American allies over defense burden-sharing, particularly regarding NATO spending commitments where member countries are expected to allocate at least 2% of GDP to defense. Canada has faced persistent pressure from both the Trump and Biden administrations to boost its defense investments, with the country currently spending below the NATO target despite repeated pledges to increase military funding.
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that the world faces the risk of being dominated by the "law of the jungle" during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. The two leaders began negotiations at the Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital, marking another high-level diplomatic engagement between the two countries. The meeting comes as both nations continue to strengthen their strategic partnership amid ongoing tensions with Western powers over various global issues.
Ukrainian drones struck targets inside Russian territory, hitting a refinery and chemical plant according to Russian reports. The attacks represent a continuation of Ukraine's strategy of targeting Russian industrial infrastructure behind the front lines. These cross-border drone operations have become increasingly common as Ukraine seeks to disrupt Russian fuel production and military supply chains that support Moscow's war effort.
The United States has delayed rather than cancelled plans to deploy 4,000 troops to Poland, according to Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. The announcement comes as part of broader US military repositioning in Europe, with the Pentagon having announced in early May plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. The troop movements represent a significant shift in American military presence across NATO's eastern flank, where allied nations have sought increased US forces amid ongoing security concerns over Russia's war in Ukraine.
US Vice President JD Vance announced that the United States and Iran are making progress in ongoing negotiations. The discussions come as President Donald Trump faces pressure to reach an agreement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil and commodity shipments. The strait serves as one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints, with roughly one-fifth of global petroleum liquids passing through the narrow passage between Iran and Oman.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that May brought a shift in the power balance in favor of Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader also highlighted planned diplomatic initiatives, emphasizing that dialogue with Hungary's new government will be crucial. Zelenskyy's comments suggest Ukraine views recent developments as strengthening its position in the ongoing conflict with Russia, though he did not specify which particular events contributed to this assessment. His focus on diplomatic engagement with Hungary indicates Ukraine's continued efforts to maintain and expand international support, particularly with neighboring countries that have had complex relationships with Kyiv during the war.
Austria has launched an investigation into allegations that individuals participated in shooting civilians during the Bosnian war. The probe was prompted by a 2022 document titled "Sarajevo Safari" that raised suspicions about such activities. Italian investigative journalist Ezio Gavazzeni published a book in March examining the case, titled "L'inchiesta sui safari umani a Sarajevo" (Weekend Snipers: Investigation into Human Safaris in Sarajevo). The investigation centers on claims that civilians were targeted during the 1992-1996 Bosnian War, which saw the siege of Sarajevo and widespread atrocities as Bosnia-Herzegovina fought for independence from Yugoslavia.
Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations threatened Latvia with retaliation during a UN Security Council session, despite the Baltic nation's NATO membership. Vasily Nebenzia claimed that Ukraine had already deployed drone forces to Latvia, alleging that Russian intelligence services had identified their launch sites. The threat represents a significant escalation in rhetoric against a NATO member state, as Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty considers an attack on one member an attack on all. Latvia, which borders Russia and has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine since Russia's invasion began in February 2022, joined NATO in 2004 as part of the alliance's eastward expansion following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China for an official visit, accompanied by a delegation that includes government ministers and representatives from Russian state and private companies. Separately, Hungarian opposition politician Péter Magyar traveled to Poland for his first official foreign visit since emerging as a prominent critic of Viktor Orbán's government. Magyar's program in Poland began with a meeting with Kraków's archbishop, Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, before scheduled talks with Polish state officials in Warsaw on Wednesday. Magyar leads the Tisza Party, which has gained significant support by opposing Orbán's Fidesz party and advocating for stronger European integration and rule of law reforms in Hungary.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico held discussions with a Chinese delegation focusing on potential investments and the establishment of a direct airline route between the two countries. The talks underscore the growing economic relationship between Slovakia and China, which ranks among Slovakia's ten largest economic partners. The discussions come as Slovakia, a member of the European Union since 2004, continues to develop its trade relationships with major global economies beyond the EU bloc.
US General Mahoney will travel to Poland following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's assurances to the country about America's continued military engagement in Polish defense and security. The visit comes as part of ongoing US-Polish defense cooperation, with Hegseth emphasizing Washington's commitment to maintaining its military presence and security guarantees for Poland. Poland, a NATO member since 1999, has been a key ally in Eastern Europe and hosts significant US military assets as part of NATO's eastern flank defense strategy.
President-elect Donald Trump is allowing ambassadorial positions to remain unfilled rather than appointing professional diplomats to these roles. This pattern reflects Trump's broader approach to diplomatic appointments, suggesting a preference for political appointees over career foreign service officers. The practice raises questions about diplomatic continuity and the functioning of U.S. embassies abroad during the transition period.
US President Donald Trump declared Monday that the United States may need to launch another attack on Iran, after postponing a planned strike that was scheduled for Tuesday. Trump announced that the US delayed the military action at the request of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The statement suggests ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the US maintaining the possibility of future military action despite the current postponement of operations.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán made a visit to Poland this week, with the trip being characterized as symbolic of Hungary's return to closer European Union relations. The visit comes as Budapest expects to receive a delegation from the European Commission later this week. The diplomatic activities suggest a potential shift in Hungary's approach to EU engagement, following a period of strained relations between Budapest and EU institutions over various policy disagreements including rule of law concerns and democratic governance issues.
Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák confirmed that Slovakia initiated the proposal to restore military diplomatic positions with Russia. The announcement comes amid broader discussions about Slovakia's relationship with Moscow under the current government led by Robert Fico's Smer-SD party, which has taken a more Russia-friendly stance since returning to power. Former Defense Minister Jaroslav Naď warned that care for military graves is a common cover used by Russian agents, including women tasked with seducing politicians, highlighting security concerns about renewed military diplomatic ties.
The European Parliament will vote on a resolution concerning the state of rule of law in Slovakia, with the country facing potential loss of European Union funding. The proposed resolution warns that deficiencies in judicial independence and audit systems directly threaten EU financial interests. The text calls on the European Commission to fully utilize all available tools to address these concerns and ensure compliance with values enshrined in EU treaties. The resolution could lead to preventive measures initially, with the possibility of more coercive steps later if issues remain unresolved.